The CW Responds to Charmed Reboot Backlash

Now Playing

Charmed Stars Reveal What to Expect of the Reboot

Next Up

The Walking Dead Sneak Peek: Daryl's an A-Hole

This fall, The CW is launching a reboot of the classic WB supernatural series Charmed, but not without controversy. Original Charmed star Holly Marie Combscondemned the project for diminishing the work she and her co-stars Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan did on the series. Doherty said she was offended by The CW describing the new series as a "feminist" reboot, which she took as an implication that the original wasn't. Fans even started the hashtag #StopCharmedReboot on Twitter.

The CW president Mark Pedowitz responded to the backlash during a conference call with reporters Thursday morning, saying, "Hopefully they would give this new cast a chance. It is not quite the same yet there are many similarities. Hopefully they will give it a shot. We are happy with who we casted. We think it's a nice mix. [Showrunner] Jennie Snyder Urman has reimagined it somewhat. I can only say to fans, before you make a decision, watch the series."

The reboot stars Madeleine Mantock, Melonie Diaz and Sarah Jeffrey as sisters Macy, Mel and Maggie Vera, who have similar powers to the original series' Halliwell sisters. The premise of the reboot is the same as the original — sisters with magical powers battle evil supernatural forces — but the sisters are now of Hispanic descent, one of them is a lesbian and the setting has been moved from San Francisco to the fictional town of Hilltowne.

Charmed will air Sundays at 9/8c on The CW.

(Full disclosure: TV Guide is owned by CBS, one of The CW's parent companies.)